title: Developing Swiss paraplegic research: building a research institution from the comprehensive perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To illustrate the conceptualization and development of a research institution from the comprehensive perspective based on the integrative model of functioning provided by the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The newly founded research institution Swiss Paraplegic Research which focuses on the comprehensive study of spinal cord injury (SCI) serves as an example.
  
  
  METHODS
  Description of organizational development and structure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The creation of specialized research institutions which develop their core competence from the comprehensive perspective poses unique challenges. It is depicted how these challenges can be met through several approaches. These encompass the identification and specification of a common mission and research goals, the organization of research along distinct scientific fields, the set-up of a respective core competence, and the design of research structures suited to conduct studies of high methodological and organizational complexity. Finally, they comprise the development of a transdisciplinary workforce and the integration into a research landscape which is organized along scientific disciplines and not along interdisciplinary themes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ideas and approaches described in this paper may serve as an example for creating integrative research institutions dedicated to human functioning and rehabilitation research from the comprehensive perspective.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland. gerold.stucki@paranet.ch
authors.forename: Gerold
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stucki
authors.forename: Jan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Alarcos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cieza
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brach
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celio
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Joggi
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Villiger
authors.forename: Guido A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zäch
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krieg
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010560:Personnel Selection; D012108:Research Personnel; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D013557:Switzerland